BETTER Together chalked up a victory over the Yes team yesterday when they won a hotly contested penalty shootout.

The political rivals put their differences aside to support sufferers with Motor Neurone Disease.

The shootout – refereed by Daily Record political editor David Clegg – was organised to raise awareness of MND, which affects about 400 people in Scotland, and boost funds to help find a cure.

Former Labour MSP John Park pulled off a stunning save from Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins’s penalty to clinch victory for the Unionists at Ainslie Park, home of East of Scotland league side Spartans.

Players to convert spot-kicks for Yes Scotland were actor Paul Brannigan, who starred in the film The Angels’ Share, Yes Scotland staff member Stuart McDonald, activist Gary Cocker and journalist and campaigner Dominic Hinde.

Park, now assistant general secretary of the Community Trade Union, said: “I thought I was pretty close to saving all of the Yes team’s penalties.

The teams pose after the charity match (Image: Daily Record)

“My tactic was to try not to guess where they going to put them but wait and see then use my reactions. It appears my reactions have improved since I left parliament.”

Jenkins laughed off his miss. He said: “We’ve won everything else this week so we wanted to give them something.”

Better Together director of research Gordon Aikman was diagnosed with MND about 12 weeks ago.

Since then, he has raised more than £60,000 and has launched www.gordonsfightback.com – a campaign to fund a cure and fight for better care for sufferers.

Gordon said: “I want to thank Better Together and Yes Scotland for coming together and taking part in the penalty shootout.

“Spartans Community Football Academy were amazing in hosting the event.

“It’s not often you get the two sides of the referendum agreeing on something so it meant a lot that they stood united to help fund a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

“It shows that no matter what your politics are, Scotland is united against MND.

“It’s a death sentence for me but if we keep raising money, we can find a cure for future generations.”